Can Ja Morant, Stephen Curry, or Chris Paul defy NBA history?

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 25: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors drives the ball previous Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns in the course of the first half of NBA recreation at Footprint Middle on December 25, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona, Can Ja Morant, Stephen Curry, or Chris Paul defy NBA historical past?. NOTE TO USER: Consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this {photograph}, Consumer is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Photos License Settlement. (Photograph by Christian Petersen/Getty Photos)

With lower than two weeks till the beginning of the 2021-22 NBA playoffs, the Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies, and Golden State Warriors relaxation as the highest three groups within the Western Convention.

What do these three groups have in frequent? They’re all led by somebody brief in stature – some extent guard.

The Grizzlies could also be unbelievably good without him, however Ja Morant is their out-and-out finest participant. The identical may be mentioned for Stephen Curry, with the Warriors looking unrecognizable as he recovers from a foot harm. We will debate who out of Chris Paul or Devin Booker is the Suns’ finest participant, however the reality stays that this workforce didn’t elevate to championship contender (or something close to it) till Paul got here alongside.

Can Ja Morant, Stephen Curry, or Chris Paul defy NBA historical past?

Because the Suns, Grizzlies, and Warriors start to embark on their quest towards the NBA championship, they’ll accomplish that realizing that historical past is properly and really in opposition to them.

It may be acknowledged that, all through NBA historical past, the winner of the Finals MVP is often awarded to the very best participant on the championship workforce (not only for the collection however on the whole). Giannis Antetokounmpo final season, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, the listing goes on. After all, there’s at all times the odd outlier like Andre Iguodala in 2015, who received regardless of Curry being the very best Warrior that season.

So, if the Warriors or Grizzlies had been to win the championship this season, it’s honest to anticipate that Curry or Morant would find yourself being the Finals MVP. The identical could possibly be mentioned for Paul, though Booker might foreseeably win it, ought to he put up an unimaginable efficiency within the Finals.

There’s just one drawback. Since Laker legend Jerry West received the inaugural Finals MVP in 1969, solely 5 gamers 6’3″ or under have received the award. That’s Jo Jo White for the Boston Celtics in 1971, the backcourt duo of Joe Dumars and Isiah Thomas on the ‘unhealthy boy’ Detroit Pistons in 1989 and 1990, Chauncey Billups for Detroit’s 2004 championship workforce, and most lately, Tony Parker for the Spurs in 2007.

So, can the Grizzlies, Warriors, and to a lesser extent the Suns, buck the pattern that means undersized guards can’t be the very best participant on a championship workforce? Many imagine that Curry was robbed of the award in 2015, with an elusive Finals MVP certain to verify his standing as a top-two level guard of all time.

A championship for the Grizzlies can be a narrative for the ages, with a Finals MVP for Morant elevating him into unique firm simply three years into his profession. On the different finish of his profession, the award would cap a exceptional profession for Paul who, like Curry, will go down as top-of-the-line level guards of all time.

In a league lately dominated by wings (James, Durant, Leonard) and now with the  re-invention of the modern-day large (Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Joeld Embiid), can the undersized guard topple all of them to defy NBA historical past?